Tampa (Florida): The United States’ Operation Epic Fury continued into its fourth day, with the intensity of strikes increasing even as Iran launched counter-offensives targeting US assets in the Gulf.
On Tuesday (local time), Admiral Brad Cooper, Commander of United States Central Command, said during a briefing that operations would continue and that Iran’s ability to retaliate was rapidly declining.
“Now, we’re less than 100 hours into this operation, and we’ve already struck nearly 2,000 targets with more than 2,000 munitions. We have severely degraded Iran’s air defences and destroyed hundreds of Iran’s ballistic missiles, launchers, and drones. In simple terms, we’re focused on shooting all the things that can shoot at us. Our B-2 bombers and B-1 bombers have executed uncontested surgical strikes against multiple missile facilities deep inside Iran. And then just last night, a B-52 bomber force struck ballistic missile and command and control posts,” he said.
Admiral Cooper also stated that no Iranian naval vessels were currently operating in the Arabian Gulf or the Strait of Hormuz.
“We are also sinking the Iranian Navy — the entire navy. Thus far, we’ve destroyed 17 Iranian ships, including the most operational Iranian submarine, that now has a hole in its side. For decades, the Iranian regime has harassed international shipping. Today, there’s not a single Iranian ship underway in the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, or Gulf of Oman. And we will not stop. We will continue to conduct dynamic targeting operations. We’re hunting Iran’s last remaining mobile ballistic missile launchers to eliminate what I would characterize as their lingering launch capability,” he said.
Admiral Cooper added that the US was ahead of its operational timeline and that Iran was losing its capacity to strike back effectively.
“In retaliation, the Iranian regime has launched over 500 ballistic missiles and over 2,000 drones. To be clear, Iran is indiscriminately targeting civilians as they launch these missiles and drones. You’ve seen it on TV; the evidence is crystal clear and overwhelming. Having said this, we are seeing Iran’s ability to hit us and our partners is declining, while our combat power, on the other hand, is building. And my overall operational assessment is that we are ahead of our game plan. Along the way, every single branch of our military is achieving unprecedented success,” he said.
He further noted that US and Israeli air forces were dominating the skies, with one-way attack drones playing a significant role.
“US Air Forces are doing what they do best: executing a high volume of air strikes right into Iran. Operationally, the two most powerful air forces in the world, the US and Israel, are dominating the skies over the world’s largest state sponsor of terror. Also, for the first time, US Central Command’s drone task force, called Task Force Scorpion Strike, launched countless one-way attack drones, achieving massive effects. Our military objectives are crystal clear, and our people are executing an immensely complex and historic mission with relentless lethality, conviction, and professionalism. And we’ve just begun. But I have the utmost confidence that we, alongside our partners, will absolutely achieve our military objectives,” he added.
Despite these assurances, Iran’s counterattacks have continued. Fox News, citing a source, reported that a CIA station inside the US Embassy compound in Riyadh was hit in a drone attack. Two drones reportedly caused structural damage and smoke inside the compound. There were no immediate reports of injuries.
Earlier, amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, a fire broke out near the premises of the US Consulate General in Dubai late Tuesday night following a suspected drone strike. Authorities later confirmed that the fire was fully extinguished and no injuries were reported. Emergency teams responded immediately, and the situation was brought under control.
The conflict has entered its fourth day following US and Israeli strikes on Iran that reportedly killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei along with other key figures in the country. In retaliation, Tehran has launched counter-strikes targeting American military bases and Israeli assets across the region.
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